Who says you have to fork out $2,000 to get all the insane benefits that come with working out on rowing machines. True, there are some high-end models costing thousands of dollars.
However, you don’t have to get discouraged if your budget is significantly lower. In fact, after detailed research and product tests of the various models, we have come across a few gems.
These models can give you those challenging workouts that have become synonymous with indoor rowers since their release on the market.
Here are the best rowing machines under $200.
Contents
Best Indoor Rower Under $200 : Quick Comparison
Model | Rating | Price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
| 4.1 | $$ | |
Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW1205
| 4.2 | $ | |
Stamina InMotion Rower
| 4.2 | $ | |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full-Motion Arms
| 4.2 | $$ | |
Stamina 1205 Precision Rower
| 4.0 | $$ |
Best 5 Rowing Machine Models Under $200
Have only $200 to spend on a rowing machine? No problem!
We have compiled the list of the best models available for sale within that seemingly impossible budget. Let's take a look right now.
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
Heralded as one of the best rowers ever released on the market, it’s not hard to see why everyone gives such glowing reviews of the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050.
The rower comes in a super strong steel frame that gives users the best foundation to exercise with intensity.
Complemented by an aluminum center beam, you can expect this particular machine to withstand daily usage for many years to come.
It gives you the ability to experience real rowing that takes all of your major muscle groups into consideration. From the abdominals to the legs as well as arms, and buttocks, every major muscle group is worked on during rowing sessions.
The specially designed rowing arms give users a full range of motion during workouts on this powerful indoor rowing machine.
Whenever you feel like taking things to the next level, all you have to do is adjust the magnetic resistance.
The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine gives epic cardiovascular fitness to anyone who is ready to put in the necessary shift to achieve that.
This killer indoor rower also features a multi-functional fitness monitor that can be eye-opening on so many levels. It supplies you with information about your workout sessions via metrics such as stroke count, exercise time, and estimated calorie burn rate.
The superbly designed and aptly cushioned seat keeps you sitting comfortably while rowing with as much intensity as necessary.
The Glider allows you to stay fit without necessarily having a dedicated gym area at home.
It can be easily folded for storage or travel.
Buy the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine here.
PROS
- Specially designed cylinder arms mimic real water rowing
- Seats are design for comfort even during hours of rowing
- Rowing arms have been specially crafted to give full range motion
- 1 year warranty
CONS
- Calorie count is far from accurate
- Failure to assemble ultra tightly can lead to squeaky noises
Rowing Machine with 12 Adjustable Resistance by Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW1205
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 comes with a shockingly pleasant price tag that hits you the first time you see it.
You are probably not surprised to find a quality rower under $200 anymore, but did you ever dream about a quality unit under $100?
This cheap indoor rower offers lots of top-level benefits for home fitness enthusiasts with extremely tight budgets. It simply gives numerous opportunities to enjoy an amazing cardio workout without stressing delicate areas of the body such as the joints.
The fully padded foam handles is an impressive feature that you won’t be able to keep your hands away from the minute your shipment arrives. This guarantees more intensive upper body workouts by giving you an unlimited range of motion.
Coming with 12 levels of adjustable resistance, getting more challenging workouts has never been easier. Whether you have just begun your fitness journey or have lots of experience under the belt, this workout machine can aid you to achieve fantastic results.
Stress-free rowing sessions are to be expected thanks to the comfortably padded seats integrated into this machine.
Sure, it may not be the greatest seats on the market but it gets the job done without any form of discomfort.
The large strong pedals give you impressive security that allows you the peace of mind to row as hard as you can. Your feet always stay in place without any risk of slippage even as your workout routines get more challenging.
The LCD monitor is convenient and easy to read even for complete beginners.
It also helps that you don’t have to be tech savvy before you can track your progress and analyze fitness data.
Buy the Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine here.
PROS
- 12 levels of adjustable resistance to meet the needs of beginners to users with intermediate levels of fitness
- Large comfortably padded foot straps give your feet security
- Seats are comfortable enough for 1 hour workouts daily
CONS
- Range of motion is limited
- Not the best built-in fitness monitor on the market
Stamina InMotion Rower
The Stamina Inmotion Rower is the perfect machine for small living rooms. Users with limited space in their home gyms also find it extremely handy.
Available in a compact body frame that refuses to sacrifice performance, it’s no wonder that it remains one of the highest selling units available for sale at the moment.
It is manufactured from solid steel material of the highest quality to give users the required level of support to keep rowing for extended periods.
The handles are smartly padded with foam in order to allow long periods of rowing with blisters and discomfort to the hands.
In addition, the comfortably stitched seat stays in place and protects your butts from getting sore even after extensive periods of using this rower.
The pivoting footplates are also crafted with adjustable closure to give the ultimate stability for your legs.
The Stamina InMotion Rower is incredibly quiet and gives you intense workouts without distracting your family members. Due to the sophisticated design, rows are smooth and put minimal pressure on your joints and other body parts.
Storage is easy thanks to the minimal footprint and foldable design. Even when completely assembled, it comes with dimensions of 56.6x19x23.5 inches.
Designed with a single-button in-Touch LCD monitor, keeping tabs of how hard you’re rowing is very easy.
Just look out for the figures in terms of distance covered, strokes, calories burned and workout time to determine whether you’re on the right track.
Every purchase comes with the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure protection for your purchase.
Buy the Stamina InMotion Rower here.
PROS
- Frame is manufactured from solid steel material
- Minimal footprint with dimensions of 56.6x19x23.5 inches
- Seats are specifically stitched to give comfort to your butts
CONS
- Handle bar grips are not the most comfortable out there
- InTouch Monitor readings are a bit flimsy
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full-Motion Arms
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 is our top pick for the best indoor rower on the market. With a current price tag that is just under $200, this model has proven to be one of the most popular available for sale today.
So what makes it stand out in the first place? The SF-RW1410 is one of the few budget units for sale that gives your butts ultimate comfort via extremely padded seats.
This essentially gives you the freedom to reach your wellness goals faster by allowing you to work out longer and faster.
The large sturdy foot pedals are another reason why this indoor rower has become such a big hit. They are specially textured with safety straps to protect your feet from injuries and slippage.
The over-sized nature of the straps also means they have what it takes to absorb the shock from the most intensive rowing sessions without breaking down.
Featuring an 8-level tension knob, users are able to switch the intensity of their workouts with a simple twist.
This means you get fitter quicker due to the freedom to undertake more challenging workouts as your stamina increases.
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine comes with a built-in LCD monitor that allows you to track your progress. It displays important data from your rowing sessions including Count, Calories Burned, and Time.
This gives you an instant idea of whether your workouts are paying off and whether you need to put in more effort or not.
Buy the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 here.
PROS
- LCD monitor displays Calories Burned, Scan, and Time
- Maximum user weight of 220 pounds
- 8 level tension resistance for more challenging workouts
CONS
- Display monitor doesn’t display distance covered
- Monitor size isn’t the biggest out there
Stamina 1205 Precision Rower
The Stamina 1205 Precision Rower has taken awesomeness to the next level in a super innovative design that gives you intense cardio without burning a hole through your wallet.
Featuring extruded aluminum engineered beam with precision and a deluxe ball bearing roller system, this machine offers ultra smooth rowing motion typical in more expensive models.
The frame is also manufactured from aluminum in a professional looking silver finish that gives performance without sacrificing the aesthetics.
Users are able to row within a speed range of 0-71 depending on their stamina. In addition, the embedded adjustable tension controls guarantee challenging workouts for rowers of all fitness levels from beginners to intermediates.
With a minimalist footprint of only 32 inches by 48 inches (WXH), this equipment offers tremendous workouts that can compete with rivals twice as big. It gives you a similar range of motion comparable with actual rowing on water.
The seats are designed to glide on a ball bearing system with the user’s comfort in mind and feature exceptional levels of padding to promote long-distance rowing.
The pivoting footplates also give users exceptional levels of support to keep going on the journey to aerobic and all round fitness.
Each purchase comes with an impressive 5-year warranty on the frame and 90-day warranty on the parts. What is holding you back from purchasing it right now?
As long as your weight falls within the 250-pound limit, you should have no problems taking advantage of its powerful features to transform your health and body.
Buy the Stamina 1205 Precision Rower here.
PROS
- Guaranteed smooth motion just like rowing on water
- Fitness monitor displays mileage, strokes, distance, calories burned, and other performance data
- 5-year frame warranty and extra 90-day warranty on parts
CONS
- Would be great if it could be folded or stand up
- Instruction manual is fairly difficult to grasp
Other Important Considerations
There are so many reasons why you may be unwilling to spend anything more than $200 on an indoor rower. Whatever your reasons, you should know that the options reviewed above are the absolute top models on the market right now.
As long as you paid attention to our detailed indoor rower reviews of the top 5 models, you should find the best one for your needs with no hassle.
Here are other considerations to take into account during shopping.
Keep It Clean
Keeping your equipment clean is one of the most underrated parts of owning a rowing machine. No matter which model you choose, it is critical that you keep it clear of dirt and dust.
After every workout, make sure to wipe it with a clean rug to keep it in tip top condition. Remember, $200 models are at the low-end of the market.
This means it is unrealistic to expect them to be manufactured from premium sweat-resistant metals as it may be in the case of elite models.
Don’t forget that some of the metallic parts may not react well with salty sweat, leading to corrosion and faster wear and tear.
Exercise Shoes
The type of shoes you wear during exercises can have a major impact on not just your performance but safety as well. Most low-end indoor rowers are not the sturdiest on the market and failure to choose wisely could lead to a model that causes your feet to slip.
This is why it is important to choose top quality workout shoes that encourage performance instead of being a hindrance.
Wearing any type of flip flops or high-heeled shoes during rowing is a big no-no. Running shoes, sneakers, and cross trainers are recommended especially when working out on a $200 home rower.
Fitting Exercise Clothes
Most budget rowing machines come with compact parts in order to minimize footprints. While baggy clothes are not advised for any type of workout, your risk of injury is actually greater on a rowing machine priced under $200.
Due to the limited footprints, your oversized clothes are at a higher risk of getting caught between the seat and the beam it slides on.
Conclusion
Rowing machines are some of the most complete exercise equipment available for sale today. Due to their ability to give full body workouts with minimal stress, experts actually recommend it for people of all ages.
A $200 budget shouldn’t bar you from finding a top quality model that offers challenging workouts. Luckily, the top 5 models reviewed above are the best money can buy at the moment.